Summary of Benefits for Operations/Technical Assistant Staff

This summary provides a high-level overview of many of the key benefits valued by Purdue faculty and staff. Most benefits are effective with the first day of employment and are offered on a calendar-year basis.

Vision

Vision coverage is provided through Vision Service Plan (VSP) for all benefits-eligible employees. In addition, all family members covered on a Purdue medical plan are automatically covered. Vision premiums are included as part of the medical plan premiums. For more details, visit www.purdue.edu/hr/Benefits/currentEmployees/dentalVision/vision.html.

Flexible Spending Accounts

The flexible spending account (FSA) program lets you pay for specific, IRS-allowed expenses using tax-free money. Any amount you elect annually is available to reimburse you for qualifying health care, vision, dental and/or dependent care expenses you experience during the calendar year. For more details, go to www.purdue.edu/hr/Benefits/currentEmployees/hsaFSA/fsa.html.

Defined Benefit (Pension) Plan: For employees hired before 9/9/13 and all police/fire employees, the University contributes to the state of Indiana’s Public Employees’ Retirement Fund (PERF) on your behalf. Purdue also makes a three percent contribution to a separate annuity savings account in your name. After you complete 10 years or more in a PERF-covered position, the plan provides for a monthly benefit when you retire or stop working at Purdue. The annuity savings account is immediately vested and available to you upon retiring or leaving Purdue employment.

Purdue Matching Retirement and Savings Plans

Benefits-eligible clerical, service and operations/technical staff are eligible for a University-funded retirement contribution upon the date of employment. This plan is administered by Fidelity.

Voluntary Savings Plan Options - Administered by Fidelity Investments

403(b) Voluntary Savings Plan: This plan allows you to put aside additional pre-tax retirement savings, up to the annual IRS limits. (For 2015, the limit is $18,000. Employees age 50 or older may contribute $6,000 more.) A ROTH component allows you to make after-tax contributions. Funds are immediately vested and are available when you reach age 59½, retire or stop working at Purdue.

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan: This plan allows you to put aside additional pre-tax retirement savings, up to the annual IRS limits. (For 2015, the limit is $18,000. Employees age 50 or older may contribute $6,000 more.) Funds are immediately vested and are available when you retire or stop working at Purdue.

Life Insurance

The University provides a basic level of term life insurance equal to 1½ times your salary, up to $500,000. Additional term life coverage is available for employees, spouses/same-sex domestic partners and children. The University also provides a basic level of accidental death and dismemberment insurance (AD&D) of $15,000. Additional coverage is available for employees, spouses/same-sex domestic partners and children. More information regarding life insurance coverage is available at www.purdue.edu/hr/Benefits/currentEmployees/lifeAndAccident/index.html.

Disability

The long-term disability (LTD) program replaces your income during times when you cannot work due to illness or injury. The coverage begins immediately, with you and Purdue each paying half the cost. The plan pays 65 percent of your base pay in the event of disability that lasts more than six months. A one-year pre-existing condition clause applies. More information regarding the disability program can be found at http://www.purdue.edu/hr/Benefits/currentEmployees/disability/disability.html

Accident Insurance - Helps protect you and your family from the costs of unexpected accidents. Includes benefits for initial care, injuries, hospitalization, follow-up care, transportation and lodging.

Auto and Home Insurance - Offers auto and home coverage, plus a wide range of other property and casualty insurance products.

Long Term Care Insurance - Designed to help reimburse charges for care you may need if you are chronically ill. Covers care received in a nursing or assisted living facility, at home, or in community settings such as adult day care centers.

Universal Life Insurance - Provides life insurance with long term care benefits. Universal life insurance expands family life insurance protection during working years and provides full living benefits during retirement.

Vacation - Operations/technical assistant staff accrue 15 days of vacation during their first year of employment and 22 days each year of continuous employment thereafter. A maximum of 44 days can be carried forward at any point.

Sick Leave - Operations/technical assistant staff are eligible for an allowance of time based on their length of employment. You may use up to 10 days per fiscal year (July 1-June 30) for the illness of family members.

Length of Employment

Maximum Time Allowed

Less than one year

Two weeks

One year, but less than two years

Regular pay for 22 days and 75 percentpay for 22 additional days

Two years, but less than three years

Regular pay for 44 days and 75 percentpay for 44 additional days

Three years or more

Regular pay for 66 days and 75 percentpay for 66 additional days

Personal Business Days - Personal business days are available to conduct personal business that cannot be done outside regular business hours. Employees may use up to three days per fiscal year to handle personal business such as financial matters, legal matters or critical family responsibilities.

Paid Parental Leave - Paid parental leave (PPL) provides parents additional flexibility and time to bond with their new child, adjust to new family situations and balance their professional obligations. Employees must have been employed by the University for at least one continuous year, half-time or more, in a benefits-eligible position to qualify.

Eligible Person(s)

Maximum Time Allowed

Birth Mother/Father and Adoptive Parents

240 hours (6 weeks)

Bereavement Leave - Paid bereavement leave is available due to the death of an immediate family member, other relatives and fellow employees.

Military Leave - The University grants up to 15 workdays of paid leave per year to allow employees to fulfill their responsibility when ordered to report for military duty. The University grants unpaid leave for military duty that extends beyond 15 workdays in a calendar year.

Purdue University Employee Exclusives

Center for Healthy Living - The Center for Healthy Living on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus brings together a wide array of services to treat common illnesses and promote health. Services include laboratory, wellness and lifestyle management, medication therapy management and behavioral health. For more information on the Center for Healthy Living, go to www.purdue.edu/healthyliving.

Tuition Fee Remission - Purdue offers a tuition fee remission benefit for employees, their spouses/same-sex domestic partners and children. Additional criteria may be required for eligibility, and certain programs may not qualify. Tuition fee remission details can be found at www.purdue.edu/policies/business-finance/c-7.html.

Rates are approved annually by Purdue’s Board of Trustees. For the tuition and fees listing for Purdue staff, spouses/same-sex domestic partners and children, go to www.purdue.edu/bursar/tuition/.

Additional Perks

The following and more are available:

Free CityBus transportation

Discount programs with area retailers

Campus fitness, athletic and entertainment discounts

Purdue technology/software discounts

Library access

Purdue Farmer’s Market

Access to dining courts and other eateries

Local Cost of Living and Salary Expectations

The cost of living in a particular geographic area should be a key consideration in your salary expectation when you are job hunting. Listed below is a link where you can enter your current salary and location and learn what the comparable salary would be in the Lafayette-West Lafayette area.